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Dr. Pradipto Bandyopadhyay presents his credentials...

Influences at Work

The sylvan environs,the vast expanse of Nature, the cycle of seasons and their varying shades in Mahanad area had deep impact on the mind of Dr. Pradipto Bandyopadhyay. The serenity of‘Panchavati` and `Sasthipukur `and the lush green and golden hue of the paddy fields of Itachuna near Khanyan station on the Howrah- Bardhaman  main line of the Eastern Railway , the historicity of Mahanad, the works of his grand father  on this important Natha centre, archaeological excavations at the initiative of his grandfather,Dr. Prabhas Chandra Bandyopadhyay shaped his approach to life and times.

               He is a product of uncertain times, between one era, which is almost dead and the other yet to emerge. So he is rooted in reality and not under the shelter of an elusive ivory tower.  The communal riots in Kolkata, the food movement, loss of power by the Indian National Congress in the General Election of 1967, the Naxalite movement  first in Naxalbari area and then its extension to the city of Calcutta , the resultant clashes between different ideologies and the unmistakable rise of the Left in the political arena with consequent pervading influences in socio-cultural and economic field –all  left deep impress on the mind.  A series of landmark events in the political arena like the split in the Indian National Congress in 1969, the emergence of Shrimati Indira Gandhi as a dominant political personality and a powerful Prime Minister of India, the Bangladesh War of Liberation  widened the  horizon of knowledge and sharpened the sensibilities. It was an era of political turmoil, socio-economic disintegration and breakdown of old values. It was a  feeling of entering into a dark tunnel and the chances of coming out of it appeared  to be quite remote.

           Dr.Bandyopadhyay came under the influence of many personalities who excelled in different fields. This was an interesting journey of life, which continues.Brief mention of them may be made in the following paragraphs:

          The  life, ideals and  multi-dimensional activities of Kaviguru  Rabindra Nath Tagore,, Swamiji (Swami Vivekananda), and  Prabhas Chandra Bandyopadhyay, , Grand father  of  Dr. Bandyopadhyay had deep impact on his  mind not only  in the formative years but also  during the ongoing journey practically everyday even now. Special mention may be made of the Tagore songs of different moods and hues, the `Abhi’ mantra of Swamiji and the life style of his grand father. The Dialectics of Karl Marx, his thoughts and writings also had a powerful influence.

              In addition to these personalities, others who shaped Dr, Bandyopadhyay”s mind  are as follows:

1)     Pratul Chandra Chowdhuri, who was popularly known as Rajiv Babu,, former Headmaster and Rector of Sree Narayan Institution,Itachuna, Hooghly.

2)     Gopal Chandra Majumdar, former Principal, Bejoy Narayan Mahavidyalaya and a dedicated soul in the academic world and the field of English Literature in particular.

3)      Former Professors / Lecturers of English Language and literature:

a)     Dr. Amalendu Bose

b)     Prof. K.C.Lahiri

c)      Prof. P.Lal

d)     Prof. Jyoti Bhattacharya

e)     Prof. Devdas Sen

f)      Prof.(Mrs.) Kraal Bose Sengupta

They all helped in shaping Dr. Bandyopadhyay` outlook in respect of literature and society.

d

Dr. Bandyopadhyay came in contact with the following scholars academicians in the field of Sociology, Social Anthropology and in fact Social Sciences and they all influenced him in some way or the other:

1)     Dr. B. DattaRay , former Head of the Department of Political Science In St. Edmund”sCollege in Shillong, Meghalaya, a noted scholar in the studies of North eastern India . He founded a body called North East Indian  Council for Social Science Research and he was General Secretary of the Council till his death in 2008.

2)     Dr. D.N.Majumder, an outstanding Anthropologist and former Professor in the Department of Anthropology of the University of Guwahati, Assam.

3)     Dr. Prabodh Chandra Bhowmick,  former Head of the Department of Anthropology,and Dean in the University of Calcutta.

4)     Prof. Siamkima, formerly of the Department of English Literature, Pachhunga College,Aizawl, Mizoram.

5)     Dr. F.K.Lehman, , former Professor . and an outstanding scholar of international repute , Illinois University, U.S.A.

     Several  personalities connected with mass media and Communication  have also influenced Dr.Bandyopadhyay:

1)     Mr. M.V.Desai, former Director of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi.

2)     Dr. A.R.Baji, former Principal Information Officer, Govt. of India.

3)     Mr. S.C.Bhatt, former Director of News Services Division, All India Radio, New Delhi and an outstanding Radio Journalist and writer.

4)     Prof. A.K.Banerji, former Head of the Departmentof Journalism, Benaras Hindu University, Varanasi

5)     Shri A.K.Garde, former Secretary of the Central Vigilance Commission, New Delhi and a former Civil Servant of repute of the Government of India.

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